1917] FIELD CROPS. 231 



Methods for the determination of the hull content of oats, Zade {Fiihling's 

 Landw. Ztg., 64 (1915), No. 11-12, pp. ^95-^ii ) .—This article reports the re- 

 sults of the determination of the hull content in numerous samples of several 

 varieties of oats, describes and discusses the different steps in the determina- 

 tion, and proposes methods for determining this factor as a means of ascer- 

 taining the feeding value as well as to what extent the hull content represents 

 a variety character. 



For the determination of the hull content of a sample in judging its feeding 

 value, the author proposes the removal from an average sample of all foreign 

 matter together with all undeveloped kernels, empty hulls, hull parts, and 

 naked caryopses, the taking of a portion of about 25 gm. from the sample thug 

 cleaned, the separation of the hulls and the caryopses, with the removal at this 

 time of all kernels found to l^ imperfect, and the determination by weight of 

 the perfect caryopses and their hulls calculated to a percentage basis. 



For the determination of the hull content as a varietal characteristic, the 

 sample secured as above described is divided into firsts and seconds or outer 

 and inner kernels, and the hull content determined from each separately. It is 

 stated that for all practical purposes it is sufficient to determine the hull con- 

 tent for the outer kernels only, as the hull content of the outer kernel bears a 

 fairly constant relation to that of the inner kernel. As this procedure does not 

 take into account the relative production of the outer and inner kernels It is 

 suggested that if this is to be ascertained the material for study should include 

 all the kernels produced by plants representing the average stand of the field. 



A study of the production of peanuts, G. Consunji y Tongco (Philippine 

 Ayr. and Forester, 4 (1916), No. 9-10, pp. 195-199). — Cultural note.s and varietal 

 descriptions are given, and the results of a comparison of seven varieties of 

 peanuts are shown in tables. 



The best average yields of nuts were secured from the Big Japan, Virginia 

 Bunch, and Improved Virginia varieties. For catch crops in young plantations 

 the American, Chinese, Big Japan, Virginia Bunch, Native Lemery, and Im- 

 proved Virginia, and in old plantations the Spanish varieties ; for a cover crop 

 the Improved Virginia ; for haymaking the Spanish varieties ; and for market- 

 ing in the form of nuts the Chinese variety are recommended. 



[Potato experiments], O. B. Whipple (Montana Sta. Rpt. 1915, pp. 252, 

 253). — Notes are given on potato experiments conducted on the station farm 

 and at the Judith Basin substation. 



At the Judith Basin substation. Pearl, Green Mountain, and Carman No. 1 

 gave the highest yields. Thinning slightly reduced the yield but improved the 

 quality of the tubers. Under dry-land conditions a planting distance of from 

 12.5 to 15.5 in. apart in the row gave the best results, while ridging sUghtly 

 reduced the yield. 



On the station farm Russet Burbank gave the highest yield among the main- 

 crop varieties, and Early Ohio the best of the early varieties. Early thinning 

 was found to be most effective, but only with Russet Burbank was it found to 

 increase the yield. Pure lines of Russet Burbank and Rural New Yorker, 

 Isolated by hill selection, were tested again in 1915, but did not give noticeably 

 higher results. The planting of cull seed for a 3-year period has only slightly 

 increased the percentage of culls produced as compared with selected seed. 



Influence of the size of the seed tuber on the quantity and quality of the 

 potato crop, P. Igonin (BezencJiuk. Selsk. Khoz. Opytn. Sta., No. 67 (1915), 

 pp. 5). — The results of the experiments here reported indicated that the starch 

 content is higher in large than in small tubers. While the size of the seed 

 tuber influenced the growth of the plant, the increase in tuber production 

 was not in proportion to the size of the seed tuber. The net crop from small 



